Chapter 36: Cocolia: Waking Up to Find Her Daughter Gone?

Theresa, Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng were already awake and having breakfast at the Goethe Hotel, discussing their next move.

"How did everyone sleep last night?" Dan Heng asked, wiping his mouth with a napkin after finishing his meal.

"Um, I slept okay," Theresa replied, slightly embarrassed. She had been sandwiched between March 7th and Stelle, who had used her as a body pillow due to her petite size.

"Hugging soft, fragrant Theresa was so comfy!" Stelle chirped cheerfully.

"Exactly! Theresa is so soft and smells so good. Cuddling her was incredibly cozy, and I slept like a log!" March 7th exclaimed, giving Theresa a tight hug. Theresa rolled her eyes at the pair and silently focused on her food. This might be their last meal in the Overworld, and she needed to fuel up before she started kicking butt.

[Ding! A new fun quest has arrived: Persuade Bronya and Gepard to proceed to the Underworld together, leaving Cocolia without any support and making her a lone commander. Reward: Hmm, let the System see... Does the System have to come up with its own rewards? Forget it, too much trouble. We'll just randomly draw a reward later.]

The Homu System grumbled lazily, too tired to dwell on it. Theresa, on the other hand, was thrilled to hear about the new mission, as it was precisely through such tasks that she grew stronger. Having already formulated a plan to terrify Cocolia, she eagerly awaited the decisive moment, ready to pull off a grand prank.

"Theresa said something might happen today, but everything's fine! You're all just worrying too much!" March 7th declared cheerfully, patting Theresa on the head after finishing breakfast.

"Exactly! Nothing's happened yet," Stelle chimed in with a grin.

"Whenever March says that, something's bound to go wrong," Dan Heng sighed, rising to his feet. He could already hear the thunderous footsteps of a large group approaching the Goethe Hotel.

"March 7th, your jinxing mouth is scarily accurate," Theresa groaned, glaring at the stunned March 7th.

Boom, boom, boom!

The thunderous footsteps reached the Goethe Hotel. Old Goethe, pale with anxiety, hurriedly threw open the doors. "To what do we owe the honor of the Silvermane Guards' visit?" he stammered nervously, his eyes darting between the grim-faced Bronya and Gepard.

"By order of the Supreme Guardian, seize these traitors who threaten Belobog! Civilians, disperse!" Gepard shouted, his words draining the color from Old Goethe's face. Waiters hastily pulled the old man back as he stared in disbelief at the Silvermane Guards storming into the Goethe Hotel lobby and surrounding the Nameless.

"Gepard, Gepard, remember what I said yesterday?" Theresa remarked with a smile, glancing at Bronya and Gepard, who seemed visibly uncomfortable.

"I sincerely apologize, but we cannot disobey the Supreme Guardian's orders," Gepard said, his cheeks flushing slightly. He knew the Nameless were innocent, which was why he hadn't immediately ordered their arrest. "Perhaps this is just a misunderstanding?"

"It's best not to resist," Bronya whispered, looking uneasily at the Nameless. "Mother has been acting strangely. She's issued orders to capture you at any cost, regardless of casualties. For your own safety, I advise against any resistance."

The Silvermane Guards affirmed their loyalty to Commander Bronya and Captain Gepard.

"Everyone, don't act rashly," Theresa proposed. "I have a suggestion, but we need to discuss it somewhere less crowded."

Theresa fanned herself with her folding fan, a gentle smile on her face, while Stelle brandished her baseball bat, eager for action. March 7th drew her bow and arrow, and Dan Heng retrieved his Cloudpiercer Spear, positioning himself beside Theresa {Stargazer} as they glared at the Silvermane Guards.

"Captain Gepard," Bronya whispered to him, "this is the densely populated town center. Perhaps we should move to a more open area to talk? After all, my mother's unfamiliar demeanor..."

Gepard nodded, having also noticed the Supreme Guardian's unsettling change in personality. Her entire demeanor felt alien, and he was determined to uncover the whereabouts of his sister, Serval.

"Very well. Everyone, stow your weapons," Gepard commanded the Silvermane Guards.

"Yes, sir!" the guards replied in unison, sheathing their weapons.

Unnoticed, Sampo had slipped into their ranks, a mischievous smile playing across his lips, hidden behind his Silvermane mask. He was eager to see how the "Nameless" actors would handle this precarious situation.

Seeing the guards lower their weapons, the Nameless naturally followed suit. They stayed close to Gepard and Bronya as they navigated through the guards' encirclement and emerged from the Goethe Hotel. Old Goethe breathed a sigh of relief as the massive group of Silvermane Guards departed, his heart having nearly given out from the shock.

"Thank goodness it wasn't a problem with Old Goethe's hotel. Whew..."

Staff members helped Old Goethe to rest; the shock had been too much for him to bear.

Meanwhile, surrounded by Silvermane Guards, the Nameless Ones were led through the astonished gazes of onlookers to a secluded area—the Underworld train station. The train line to the Underworld had been closed, leaving the area virtually deserted.

"Alright," Gepard said, gesturing for the guards to disperse. "We're away from prying eyes now. The Silvermane Guards are trustworthy; they're like family. I know you're innocent, but we must obey the Supreme Guardian's orders."

Sampo's eyes gleamed with anticipation. This was the Underworld train station. All he needed to do was toss a few smoke bombs laced with sleeping gas to incapacitate the guards, then smuggle the Nameless Ones (the "actors") into the Underworld. Piece of cake.

"By now, you've all noticed that the Supreme Guardian we know isn't acting right," Gepard continued. "Bronya and I have certainly experienced it firsthand."

Theresa, her eyes twinkling with celestial wisdom, gracefully fanned herself with the Oath of Judah, now transformed into a fan. March 7th and the others stood cheerfully behind her.

"It's true," Bronya murmured, a hint of frustration in her voice. "She was perfectly fine yesterday, but today she's acting completely out of character. As Silvermane Guards, we have no choice but to obey her orders."

The Silvermane Guards had already stationed themselves far from the group, guarding the perimeter of the train station. They understood that staying out of trouble was the key to survival. As minor figures, they knew they had no place meddling in such affairs.

Thus, they conscientiously maintained their posts around the station's outer ring, pretending not to hear a thing.

"Now's our chance! Eat this smoke bomb!"

Suddenly, one of the guards excitedly tossed a cluster of smoke grenades that erupted in plumes of white smoke. Startled, the guards inhaled the vapor, and a heavy drowsiness swiftly enveloped them and the rest of the group.

"Cough, cough, cough!"

"Did you plan this all along?!"

No one had anticipated the sudden turn of events. Gepard hastily raised his shield, convinced they had fallen into a trap. Instinctively, he glanced at Theresa and the others, suspecting they were behind it.

Theresa stared in astonishment at the crowd of groggy figures sprawled on the ground. Only she, Dan Heng, Bronya, and Gepard remained awake, desperately fighting off the overwhelming drowsiness.

"Hey, we didn't do this!" Theresa shouted, knowing her half-Fusion Warrior status naturally protected her from such sedatives. As for Dan Heng, the reincarnation of Dan Feng, the Vidyadhara High Elder, it would be laughable for him to be knocked out by such a simple trick.

In truth, Dan Heng considered feigning unconsciousness. But seeing Theresa wide awake and energetic, he simply stood beside her, holding the unconscious March 7th and Stelle with one arm, confident she could handle the situation easily.

"Heh heh heh, long time no see~"

A Silvermane Guard cheerfully removed his helmet and mask, revealing deep blue hair and a roguish grin. It was Sampo!

"Wow, it really is you!" Theresa exclaimed in surprise, staring at Sampo in disbelief.